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Unsurprisingly with London 2012 just around the corner and the competition for places hotting up, the Olympics has been in the spotlight again this week.
However it was the ambient summer temperature in the Middle East that was the focus as the IOC rejected Qatar’s bid to host the 2020 Games.
In recognition of the furore that surrounded the decision to allow the 2022 World Cup to be hosted by our neighbour, the Doha delegation proposed a shift from the traditional summer time slot to October to avoid the worst of the heat. Sensibly, Qatar only proceeded with its initial bid having received assurances from the IOC that such a move would be acceptable.
However, in deciding to reject Qatar’s bid, the IOC cited an October schedule as being problematic as it would mean that the Olympics would compete for television rights with the main American and European sporting schedules, thereby reducing revenues.
While the IOC also cited challenges with capacity, transportation and ticketing, it was clear – in a strong message to FIFA – that the main focus was on the untested climate-control technology and difficulties with heat.
This also coincided with a message from the Abu Dhabi Volvo skipper, Ian Walker, that Abu Dhabi would make a great destination for an Olympic Games.
Baku, the Azerbaijan capital, was also omitted, leaving only three cities left to bid, namely Tokyo, Istanbul and Madrid. With the two wealthy countries left to lick their wounds and regroup for future bidding, the IOC’s shortlist looks surprisingly vulnerable.
Madrid, the perennial bridesmaid in the bidding process, faces a massive challenge economically as it struggles with the economic climate and an ever depreciating debt-rating. As the government faces pressure over EU-enforced spending cuts how will the public react to a commitment to spend billions on the world’s largest sporting event with millions unemployed?
While one hopes the country will have recovered by the time the 2020 Games comes around, the bidding process will take place as Japan continues its recovery from the Tsunami and damaged nuclear energy plant fall-out.
This leaves Istanbul which will, no doubt, play on its historical venue as a gateway between East and West, both financially and culturally. Having been accepted as a preferred bidder, Turkey will now presumably face a decision between gambling on its ability to secure the 2020 Games and whether to confirm its hosting of the European football championships only a month beforehand. Previously, the IOC had stated that it was simply not feasible to host both.
While TV viewing audiences comparing the Olympics and World Cup are largely similar, logistically they are a world apart and I, for one, can sympathise with the IOC’s decision on the grounds of capacity. However, if a compromise can be found over scheduling, I would love to see a combined Middle East bid to host the Games.
That said, competition to host will be much tougher in the future after the IOC also settled a dispute with the US Olympic Committee. A deal struck in 1994 allowed the US to share commercial income with the IOC, although this caused huge resentment with other organisations, undermining the Chicago bid for 2016. However, a renegotiation will mean that the US will be free to bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
The Middle East was also in focus over the willingness, or otherwise, of some of the region’s countries to permit female athletes to represent the nation. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Brunei were the only countries to send all-male teams to Beijing 2008. Qatar and Brunei have confirmed they will both be selecting women as part of their national teams, with Qatar having received special dispensation from the IOC to send swimmer Nada Arkail and sprinter Noor Al Malki.
However, the IOC is being placed under pressure to sanction Saudi Arabia by various human rights groups, who claim that Saudi’s actions directly contravene the IOC’s own charter. This states that ‘any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, sex or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement’.
However, IOC President Jacques Rogge has, to date, refused to countenance sanctions although admitting to continuing negotiations to find a solution.
